ROBERTO MANCINI left star Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the bench by accident – when he misread the team-sheet after forgetting his glasses.
The former Manchester City boss Mancini, now manager of the Azzurri, left the Juventus veteran, 36, out of the side for last night’s 1-1 Uefa Nations League draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Florence.
Mancini instructs his Italy players in the 1-1 draw with Bosnia – after misreading the teamsheet and dropping Giorgio ChielliniCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lazio centre-half Francesco Acerbi started instead when Mancini, 55, looked at the team-sheet without the aid of his spectacles.
Mancini told Football Italia: “It was my fault. They showed me the line-up, I didn’t have my glasses on and just said it was fine.
“I didn’t notice Acerbi was there rather than Chiellini.”
It was a seventh cap for Acerbi.
But Mancini said Chiellini will come back in for Monday’s game away to Holland.
Mancini added: “Anyway, we had planned originally for Acerbi to play one game and Chiellini another.
“I had asked Giorgio if he wanted to play today or on Monday with Holland, he said today, but we’ll have to swap it now.
“It’s not like we chose a goalkeeper rather than a defender, it’s not a massive difference, but yes, it was an error.”
The draw ended Italy’s run of 11 successive wins.
Edin Dzeko, Mancini’s old striker at City, gave the visitors the lead.
But the Azzurri salvaged a draw through Stefano Sensi.
Mancini took over as Italy boss in May 2018.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
